Loose Leaf Projects

Limited Edition Prints & Books

New Midwestern Nature Stories

An Illustrated Collection

An Artist-Led Project by Karen Kopacz, Artist & Writer
Select Midwest prints are available now. An artist-designed book is in progress.

Illustrations | Road Trip Photo Journal | Documentation

In 2016-2019, I traveled over 8000 miles throughout the Midwest to places I had drawn. This nature-immersive journey allowed me to produce a collection of stories that emerged from visiting public parks and natural areas in every Midwestern state.

The New Midwestern Nature Stories series elevates stories about natural areas and our relationships with land and each other. Each drawing pairs with a short story that contextualizes land through compelling narrative that encourages thoughtful reflection on human, ecological, and bioregional interconnection.

It recognizes the importance of shifting ecological and human perspectives so that we can to imagine and explore a new mythos of the living world.

This artistic approach to land and water comprehension is a pathway to recover optimism amid disorientation. As we become collectively aware of our disconnection from the land that sustains us, we can begin to build connections toward working collaboratively with nature and each other.

— Karen Kopacz

Interactive Illustrations

See the Landscape

Have a look around. Tap drawings below to explore each place in satellite view in Google Maps. Map tips: Click the person icon in yellow at the lower right, then click the blue circles to enter street view, when available. (Zoom out to locate blue circles.) Click the “x” in the upper right to exit street view.

Buy Select Prints

A Hand-Planted Forest in the Midwestern Desert, 2015.

Once the largest hand-planted forest in the world, this forest was cultivated by Charles Bessey over 100 years ago. His vision for planting a forest in the Nebraska Sandhills was deemed impossibl — A Hand-Planted Forest in the Midwestern Desert, 2015. Once the largest hand-planted forest in the world, this forest was cultivated by Charles Bessey over 100 years ago. His vision for planting a forest in the Nebraska Sandhills was deemed impossible by many and fought by ranchers. After a decade or more of trial and error and planting assistance by the residents of this tiny town, the forest continues to replenish trees lost to forest fires and other causes in 5 states. Bessey Ranger District. Nebraska National Forest in Halsey, NE.

The Juniper Fire That Burned for 26 Years, 2015.

This national park is under threat from the Bakken Oil Boom. Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) borders the park and gas flares contribute to light pollution.

The buttes at Painted Canyon. Theodore Roos — The Juniper Fire That Burned for 26 Years, 2015. This national park is under threat from the Bakken Oil Boom. Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) borders the park and gas flares contribute to light pollution. The buttes at Painted Canyon. Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND.

Where the Tallgrass Still Grows, 2020.

Less than 1% of tallgrass prairie still remains in the US. During settlement, the largest expanse was saved by rocks. This drawing depicts a burn area to highlight the rocky terrain.

Tallgrass Prairie Nationa — Where the Tallgrass Still Grows, 2020. Less than 1% of tallgrass prairie still remains in the US. During settlement, the largest expanse was saved by rocks. This drawing depicts a burn area to highlight the rocky terrain. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, KS.

Birdsong & Rocket Bodies, 2015.

Yellow Mounds Overlook at Badlands National Park, SD & Pinnacles Overlook at Custer State Park Black Hills, SD. (Also see: https://tinyurl.com/yckrub27) — Birdsong & Rocket Bodies, 2015. Yellow Mounds Overlook at Badlands National Park, SD & Pinnacles Overlook at Custer State Park Black Hills, SD. (Also see: https://tinyurl.com/yckrub27)

The Miracle of Mushrooms & Bryophytes, 2020.

Ash Cave. Hocking Hills State Park, OH. — The Miracle of Mushrooms & Bryophytes, 2020. Ash Cave. Hocking Hills State Park, OH.

Trading Jack Pines for French Fries, 2015.

A North Dakota potato farmer (McDonald's french fries) destroyed acres of jack pines before being stopped by the DNR. The farm is a threat to the Pineland Sands which sits atop a major aquifer.

Wadena MN. — Trading Jack Pines for French Fries, 2015. A North Dakota potato farmer (McDonald's french fries) destroyed acres of jack pines before being stopped by the DNR. The farm is a threat to the Pineland Sands which sits atop a major aquifer. Wadena MN.

The Great Protector, 2016.

Grasses are important to stand stabilization to protect dunes. Here, the dunes lead to marshes and forests that help protect the surrounding area from flooding.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, IN. — The Great Protector, 2016. Grasses are important to stand stabilization to protect dunes. Here, the dunes lead to marshes and forests that help protect the surrounding area from flooding. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, IN.

That Shipwreck, Too, Will Be Forgotten, 2015.

Lake Superior is under constant protection by citizens and organizations who oppose sulfide-ore copper mining which leaches heavy metals and could permanently damage lakes and groundwater. The Great Lake — That Shipwreck, Too, Will Be Forgotten, 2015. Lake Superior is under constant protection by citizens and organizations who oppose sulfide-ore copper mining which leaches heavy metals and could permanently damage lakes and groundwater. The Great Lakes are one of the largest surface freshwater ecosystems in the world. Lake Superior. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI.

Unlike the Sky, the Land Has Borders, 2015.

BWCAW is under constant protection by citizens and organizations who oppose sulfide-ore copper mining which leaches heavy metals and could permanently damage lakes and groundwater. The Great Lakes are one — Unlike the Sky, the Land Has Borders, 2015. BWCAW is under constant protection by citizens and organizations who oppose sulfide-ore copper mining which leaches heavy metals and could permanently damage lakes and groundwater. The Great Lakes are one of the largest surface freshwater ecosystems in the world. View from the Border Route Trail. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, MN,

The Sway of Nature, Law, and Sprawl, 2016.

The wings of the eagle in the river connect to the shoreline where a bridge was constructed. The proposed bridge on this Wild & Scenic River was strongly contested by its protectors. The bridge was built. — The Sway of Nature, Law, and Sprawl, 2016. The wings of the eagle in the river connect to the shoreline where a bridge was constructed. The proposed bridge on this Wild & Scenic River was strongly contested by its protectors. The bridge was built. St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, MN & WI.

River Fires and the Creation of the Federal EPA,
2015.

This image tells the story of the creation of the federal EPA, which was enacted after the Cuyahoga River caught fire over 13 times from pollution.

Cuyahoga River & Brandywine Falls. Cuyahoga V — River Fires and the Creation of the Federal EPA, 2015. This image tells the story of the creation of the federal EPA, which was enacted after the Cuyahoga River caught fire over 13 times from pollution. Cuyahoga River & Brandywine Falls. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, OH.

Natural Bridges and Caves, 2015.

The Natural Bridge. Maquoketa Caves State Park, IA — Natural Bridges and Caves, 2015. The Natural Bridge. Maquoketa Caves State Park, IA

Cypress Beings at the Confluence, 2017.

Big Cypress Access & Heron Pond. Little Black Slough Nature Preserve, IL. — Cypress Beings at the Confluence, 2017. Big Cypress Access & Heron Pond. Little Black Slough Nature Preserve, IL.

Mining the Edges, 2015.

St. Louis Canyon Trail. Starved Rock, IL. — Mining the Edges, 2015. St. Louis Canyon Trail. Starved Rock, IL.

We Crossed Paths Last Evening, 2020.

Chimney Rock National Monument, NE. — We Crossed Paths Last Evening, 2020. Chimney Rock National Monument, NE.

When the Commodity of Land Overpowers Community, 2015.

Through the Devil's Doorway. Devil's Lake State Park, WI. — When the Commodity of Land Overpowers Community, 2015. Through the Devil's Doorway. Devil's Lake State Park, WI.

The Solar Eclipse, 2017.

Garden of the Gods. Shawnee National Forest, IL. — The Solar Eclipse, 2017. Garden of the Gods. Shawnee National Forest, IL.

Magnetically Dismantling All of Creation, 2016.

Wildlife Loop Road. Black Hills, SD. — Magnetically Dismantling All of Creation, 2016. Wildlife Loop Road. Black Hills, SD.

The Road Trips

Open Air Jouranl

Photo documentation the road trips—8000 miles of nature in 3 loops.

Go on the Road Trips

Documentation

Acts, Facts, Maps & Timelines

A library of documentation that informed the project.

Featured

Water

Less than 1% of global water is accessible freshwater, the sole source for drinking water and crop irrigation. Accessible Freshwater is found in rivers, lakes, aquifers, and groundwater. Non-accessible freshwater is found in glaciers and polar ice caps, and not accessible for human use. Freshwater comes primarily from rivers, lakes, and aquifers and is the sole source for drinking water and crop irrigation. It is also used significantly in industry. In the U.S., only 13% of all water used is saline; 5% of that is used for industry and 56% of that is for mining.

Forest

Forests provide oxygen, store carbon, and purify water. They filter air and water to remove pollutants and increase biodiversity, which helps ecosystems and habitat thrive. According to a 2012 study, “50% of the earth's biodiversity occurs in forests.” As deforestation increases, so do frequency and severity of floods, drought, forest fires, and water pollution. Natural forests are the largest source for drinking-water supplies, a compelling reason to protect and replenish forests.

Sand & Dunes

Sand dunes protect coastlines and watersheds and create buffers that insulate land from high winds, storm damage, and flooding. Grasses, vegetation, trees, shrubs, and fences help to hold the sand in place, reducing erosion of dunes. They are habitat for endangered species and there is an incredible range of biodiversity from flora and fauna to birds and aquatic life. For example, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore protects 30% of plant species that are listed as rare, threatened, endangered, and special concern.

Preservation Acts

This in-progress guide highlights preservation Acts that have informed some of the topics for my drawings and the writing in my forthcoming book. The resources that follow are a few of many that I have used for better understanding pathways to protecting land and water. Each Act protects a lengthy list of objectives; the definitions or protections that I find to be primary or significant have been excerpted. Over time, more preservation Acts, including Acts from other regions, may documented here.

Public Protections

Reading List

This reading list includes essays, stories, and books on land, water, ecosystems, intersectional environmentalism, and spiritual ecology that continue to inform Loose Leaf projects.

Maps: Wetland Ecosystems

These interactive maps provide reference for location of wetlands and its ecosystems.

Maps: Wild & Protected Rivers

These interactive maps provide reference for understanding rivers, how they flow, and their national designations. Focus on Wild & Scenic Rivers.

Maps: Geologic

An ongoing collection of geologic maps showing interactive data in the U.S. and by state showing mining, fracking, natural gas wells, injection wells, earthquakes, and other data.